Impression regulator



Oct. 5, 1937. J. F. KocA` 2,095,068

IMPRESSION REGULATOR Filed Feb. 27, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. '5, 1937.

J. F. KocA IMPRESSION REGULATOR Filed Feb. 27, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2@ax/772m@ Patented on. s, 1937 4PATENT oFFlCE IMPRESSIGN REGULATOR JamesF. Koca, Woodstock, Ill., asslgnor to Woodstock Typewriter Company.Woodstock, Ill., a

corporation of Illinois Application February zr, 1933, serial No.658,198

13 Claims.

This invention relates to an impression regulator for typewriters, andparticularly to impression regulating means for -electrically operatedtypewriters. More specifically the invention relates to adjustable meansfor determining the duration or length of time the type bar actuator ismaintained'in operative contact or driving relationship with an actuatordrive shaft of an electric typewriter.

The primary object of the-invention is to provide new and improved meansto adjust the duration or length of time the type bar actuator ismaintained in operative contact or driving relationship with an actuatordrive shaft of an electric typewriter.

Another object is to provide an actuator release bar having a pluralityof individual actuator release screws for. individually adjusting thetype bar actuator, and means for collectively adjusting the actuatorrelease bar to collectively adjust all the type bar actuators.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple and improvedmeans for individually or collectively adjusting the type bar actuatorswhereby the driving relationship of the type bar actuators with theactuator drive shaft is adjusted to regulate the impression of the typebar.

A still further object of the invention is to provide new and improvedimpression regulator means with visible indicating means so that theoperator or typist can make the necessary adjustments depending upon thenumber of copies to be made and readily determine the position 'to whichthe impression regulator means should be set according to the number of,copies to be made. A

Still another object of the invention is to provide a visible exteriorlypositioned manually operated device for collectively raising or loweringthe actuator release bar to regulate the impression of the type bar.

lNumerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout theprogress of the following specication.

'Ihe accompanying drawings illustrate a se'- lected embodiment of theinvention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a detail sectional view through a typewriter and embodying theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a detail elevation of the improved actuator release bar havingthe actuator release screws mounted thereon and means for adjusting theactuator release bar.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of the indicat- 55 ing means fordetermining the amount of adjustment required in accordance with thenumber of copies to be made, the ilgurebeing taken on the line 3-3 ofFig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a detail plan section on the line I-I of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of the indicating means shown in Figs. 3and 4.

Referring to the drawings, I0 designates a typel writer frame upon whichkey levers II are arranged in the usual manner. 'Iype bar actuators I2are controlled by the key levers and operate type bars I3 through theintermediary of sub-levers I 4. Key lever latches I5 are carried by thekey levers and shift the type bar actuators downwardly into engagementwith the actuator drive shaft I6 upon depression of a key lever. y

The actuator drive shaft I6 may be driven b a belt, not shown, from apulley I1 driven by a motor, not shown. The actuator drive shaft rotatesin the direction shown by the arrow, Fig. 1, and pulls a type baractuator to the left when the hook or tooth I8 of the type bar actuatoris moved into engagement by the latch I5 upon operation of a key leverII. This pulling force causes the type bar actuator I2 to move to theleft and operate the subflever Il which swings the type bar I3 on itspivot I9 to impression engagement with the platen 20.

An actuator release bar 2 I having actuator release screws 22 isprovided to remove or kick olf the type bar actuator I2 .from theactuator driveshaft IB. The type bar actuator I2 is provided with a camsurface y23 which, during movement of the type bar actuator I2, willbecome engaged with its corresponding actuator release screw 22 andraise the left end of the type bar actuator from engagement with theactuator drive shaft I6.

If the actuator screw 22 is operated to lower its engaging end 24,theend I8 of the type bar actuator will remain in engagement with theactuator drive shaft for a longer period of time and consequently causea greater pull or drive to be exerted on the type bar actuator andconsequently the type bar I3 will be driven with greater force. If,however, the actuator release screw 22 is turned to have its end 24projecting further outwardly from the actuator release bar, thedisengagement of. the tooth I3 will be advanced, that is, the type baractuator will be kicked off from the actuator drive shaft quicker,causing less driving force to be given to the type bar actuator andconsequently less printing force to the type `bar Il. Thus, when anumber/of copies are to be made, it isadvantageous that the type baractuator be kept into longerA engagement with the, actuator driveshaft,l while when a less vnumber of copies are to be made, it isadvantageous that the type bar actuator 2 be kicked off" from theactuator drive shaft quicker so as to reduce the driving force of thetype bar I3. However, it would be inconvenient to operate every one ofthe actuator release screws every time additional or less copies are tobe made. Therefore, means are provided to move the entire actuatorrelease bar by the manipulation or operation oi.' a single member tocollectively regulate the driving force of all the type bars.. Theprincipal function, therefore, of the actuator release screws `is toprovide individual regulation of each type bar actuator so thateach'type bar I 3 will give the same or practically the same impression.Actuator release bar adjusting screws 25, Fig. 2, are provided fororiginally adjusting the maximum upper `position of the actuator releasebar 2| during the assembly of the typewriter. Actuator release lockscrews 26 may be provided for preventing movement or rotation ofactuator release bar adjusting screws 25. 'I'he actuator release bar 2|is provided with end bearings 2'| which operate in slots 28 provided inthe hangers 29. The hangers 29 have inwardly'extending end portions 30through which the actuator release bar adjusting screws 25 freely passand limit the vertical slidable movement of the actuator release bar.

The means for effecting the collective adjustment of the type baractuators comprises a horizontal shaft 3| which passes through alinedh'oles 32 in the upwardly extending offset ends 33 of the hangers 29.The ends 33 of the hangers are offset from their sides 34 to provide ahorizontal bearing surface 35 through which holes 36 are formed. Rods orlshafts 31 pass through the holes 36 and have threaded engagement withthe actuator release" bar as indicated at 38, and extend through theends 30 of the hangers, and have free revoluble movement with respect tothe ends 3U beyond which they may be threaded and provided with lockingnuts. The tightening lof thenuts will thereby tend to lock members 3'!in adjusted position. Beveled gears 39 are fixed to the rodsY or shafts31 and are supported by the surfaces 35. These beveled gears 39 havemesh- The shaft 3| is elongated as frame I9. IA handle or knob 42 isfixed to the vend 4| ofthe shaft 3| for giving revoluble movementthereto. Therefore, when the knob 42 is turned, the shaft 3| will turncausing turning or revoluble movement of the beveled gears 40 which arefixed to the shaft. This rotary movement of the gears 40 will causerotary movement of the gears 39, and inasmuch as these gears are fixedto the rods or shafts 31, the rods or shafts 3`| will be given rotarymovement. Rotary movement of the rods or shafts 31 will cause theactuator release bar 2| to be raised or lowered due to the threadedengagement of the rods or shafts 31- with the actuator release bar.Therefore, if a number of copies are to be made on the typewriter, theknob '42 may be turned to lower the actuator release bar, but if a lessnumber of copies are desired, the knob 42 is rotated in an oppositedirection to raise the acproper position for making a predeterminednumber of copies, indicating means 43 may be arranged between the knob42 and the exterior surface of the casingA I in the mannershown in Fig.3. Y

The indicating means 43 may comprise a casing 44 having a ring gear l45fixed thereto. A revolubly mounted gear 46 is arranged inside of thecasing and is fixed to the bottom plate 44' and has meshing relationshipwith the ring gear 45 and with a gear 4'| fixed to the shaft 3|. Thus,when the shaft 3| is rotated, the gear 46 which is fixed will rotate..the casing 44. An indicator or pointer 48 is integrally fixed to thebottom plate 44 and extends outwardly therefrom and overlaps the outeredge 49 of the casing 44 as shown in Fig. 5.- 'I'his pointer isstationary while the casing 44 is revolubly mounted. The outer edge ofthe casing acts as a micrometer, `being provided with indicating means,such as numerals 50. The numerals 50 cooperate with the pointer 48 toindicate to the operator or typist the number of copies for which themachine is set. The numerals 50 being on the-edge of the casing, facetoward the oper-y ator. Therefore, the operator can see, at a glance,the position to which the device is set. If only one copy is to be made,the operator turns the knob 42 until the proper numeral on the casing(numeral l) comes in registering position in respect to the\indicator orpointer48. If several copies are to be made, the knob is turned untilthe proper numeral on'the casing coincides with the edge of the pointerand indicates the number of copies.

'I'he bottom plate 44 may be provided With extending ears I through'which screws 52 pass for fastening the plate to the machine.l

Where the indicating means 43 is provided, the knob 42v may beconstructed as shown in Fig. 3 instead of constructing it as shown inFig.'2.

The invention provides simple and improved means for regulating theactuator release bar to regulate the impression stroke of the type bar.

The invention further provides regulating means located in a convenientposition and readily visible to indicate to the operator or typist thenumber of copies for which the machine is set or may be set.

Changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of theparts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacriiicingany of its advantages, and the right is fairly fall within the scope ofthe following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

l. In a typewriter, a type bar actuator, an actuator release bar forsaid actuator, means car- 2. Impression regulator means for typewriterscomprising an actuator release bar, said release bar being provided withan actuator release screw for each typewriter key, a support for theactuator release bar, means for adjusting the actuator release farrelative to the support, said support having a slot therein, and anextension on the 'release bar engaging the slot for limiting herebyreserved to make all such changes as the adjustment of the release barrelative to the support.

3. Impression regulator means for typewriters comprising an actuatorrelease bar, said release bar being provided with an actuator releasescrew for each typewriter key, a support for the actuator release bar,means for adjusting the actuator release bar relative to the support,means for limiting the adjustment of the release bar relative to thesupport, said last named means including an element on the actuatorrelease bar slidingly engaging a part of the support.

4. An impression regulator for electric typewriters comprising a typebar actuator, an actuator release bar beneaththe type bar actuator, arotary drive shaft adapted for engagement with the actuator, a membercarried by the release bar to regulate the engagement of the actuatorwith the drive. shaft, a support for the release bar, means forregulating the release bar relative to the support, said last namedmeans including interengaging means on the release bar and support, andmeans for limiting the movement of the release bar relative to thesupport.

5. An impression regulator for electric typewriters comprising a typebar actuator,` a longitudinal actuator release bar beneath the type baractuator, a longitudinal rotary drive shaft adapted for engagement withthe actuator, a member carried by the release bar to regulate theengagement of the actuator with the drive shaft, and means forregulating the position of the release bar said last named meansincluding a manually operated longitudinal member parallel ,to therelease bar and having a portion thereof located outside of thetypewriter.

6. An impression regulator for electric typewriters comprising a typebar actuator, an actuator release bar beneath the type bar actuator, arotary drive shaft adapted for engagement with the actuator, a membercarried by the release bar to regulate .the engagement of the actuatorwith the drive shaft, a support for the release bar, vertical meansrevolubly mounted for regulating the release 'bar relative to thesupport, and horizontal manually rotatable means cooperating with thesupport and said vertical means to move the release bar `to change theposition of the release bar.

7. An impression regulator for type bars comprising a support, a releasebar carried by the support, members carried by the support andthreadedly engaging the release bar, gears carried by said members, androtatable means engaging said gears to rotate the gears and regulate'the position of the release bar.

8. An impression regulator for type bars comprising a support, a releasebar carried by the support, members carried by the support andthreadedly engaging the release bar, gears carried -by said members, atransverse shaft, gears on the shaft and meshing with the first namedbeveled gears, and means located exteriorly of the typewriter forrotating said shaft.

9. An impression regulator for electric typewriters comprising a typebar actuator, an actuator release bar beneath the type bar actuator, arotary drive shaft adapted for engagement with the actuator, a membercarried by the release bar to regulate the engagement of the actuatorwith the drive shaft, a support for the release bar, rods havingthreaded engagement with the release bar and free rotary movementrelative to the support, gears supported by the support and carried bythe rods, and means for rotating said gears simultaneously.

10. An impression regulator for electric typewriters comprising a typebar actuator, an actuator release bar beneath the type bar actuator, arotary drive shaft adapted for engagement with the actuator, a membercarried by the release bar to regulate the engagement of the actuatorwith the drive shaft, a support for the release bar, rods havingthreaded engagement with the release bar and free rotary movementrelative to the support, gears supported by the support and carried bythe rods, a transverse shaft supported by the typewriter, gears on saidshaft and meshing with the rst named gears, and a knob positionedexteriorly of the typewriter and fastened to the shaft to rotate saidshaft.

11. An impression regulator for electric typewriters comprising a typebar actuator, an actuator release bar beneath the type bar actuator,

. a rotary drive shaft adapted for engagement with the actuator, amember carried by the release bar to regulate the engagement of theactuator with the drive shaft, manually operated means, verticallyextending rotatably mounted members operated by the rotation of the saidmanually operated means for regulating the position of the release barto regulate the engagement of the actuator with the drive shaft, andindicating means carried by the said manually operated means forindicating the adjusted position of the release bar, said manuallyoperated means including horizontally extending, revolubly mountedmanually operated means partly located exteriorly of the typewriter andremotely situated relative to the type bar actuator.

l2. An impression regulator for electric typewriters comprising a typebar actuator, an actuator release bar beneath the type bar actuator, arotary drive shaft adapted for engagement with the actuator, a membercarried by the release bar to regulate the engagement of the actuatorwith the drive shaft, a support for the release bar, rods havingthreaded engagement with the release bar and free rotary movementrelative to the support, gears supported by the support and carried bythe rods, a transverse shaft supported by the typewriter, gears on saidshaft and meshing with the first named gears, a knob positionedexteriorly of the typewriter and fastened to the shaft to rotate saidshaft, and indicating means operated by the shaft for indicating theadjusted position of the release bar.

actuator release bar for said actuator, means carried by the release barfor regulating the engagement of each actuator, means for adjusting theactuator release bar bodily to any of a series of positions forregulating the engagement of all 13. In a typewriter, a type baractuator, ani-.60

